Jerry had never heard of this problem. It wasn't like Vivian had shared anything with him but to hear these things from the mouth of another girl, and that girl was the one Jaime should marry, was truly upsetting."Really?" He asked coldly. "What does that have to do with Vivian?""You care about her, right?" She said, noting the defensive note in his voice. Jerry felt his expression twist in annoyance but didn't confirm her suspicions. "Jaime needs someone with business ability in addition to a woman waiting at home.""Their marriage is none of her business." He says."No, I believe it is." She coldly dismissed his idea. "How Jaime performs as director affects the company, and how the company operates will affect the JK Construction partnership. Vivian brings no benefit to this.""You have no right to decide that.""I'm Jaime's advisor." She raised her head, signaling power. "Jaime is vulnerable, he is and always has been. I believe you know Jaime stands on a deeper level in their re
Vivian walked out of the bathroom. The sight of her with her wet hair wrapped up in a towel made her look seductive. He wanted to bury his face in her shoulder to feel comfort. That, he thought, would energize him after a day full of tiring schedules. But at the moment he is in no mood to be intimate."Are you back?" She asked when she saw him, smiling. "You left early today.""I'll try to leave earlier in the next few days, maybe next week." He promised firmly. "Did you withdraw money today?"He caught the surprised expression on her face. Guilty, she muttered. "Right." Hurrying towards the wardrobe, she opened it to show him the new dresses inside. "I bought new clothes. You said I could use them as I like to shop. I hope you don't mind."She seemed worried. It made him feel bad like he was arresting her for something that didn't need to be thought about. But thirty thousand dollars spent just on clothes? This is not reasonable. Jaime still found it unbelievable but decided not to f
Vivian calls to tell Jaime that she's going home after her shift. With a guilty heart, he went straight home after the meeting. After seeing Juke at the door, he walked around the house with his nephew because he felt bored.The air was crisp but his mind wandered to Hodja's surprise visit earlier that afternoon. What does he want to talk about? Is there something about this marriage that he is unhappy with?Jaime believes that he and Vivian are doing well. Unless it had something to do with his aunt's visit the previous morning. Did she say something offensive to Vivian that he didn't know about but that everyone else knew about?"No ice cream today," Juke said sadly."Huh?" Snapping out of his thoughts, Jaime looked down.The little nephew pointed out to the street and then looked up at his uncle. "Aunt Vivian bought me ice cream from that place yesterday. It's gone now."Jaime raised his eyebrows, he crouched down to Juke's level. "Do you want ice cream?"Nodding, the boy said. "My
"The food here is really delicious." She heard Jaime comment as he filled his plate with food. "I'll take some home if I can."Vivian looked up at him, smiling quietly. Moving to an empty table, they sat down to enjoy their lunch. Around them, voices and laughter echoed loudly."What is that?" Jaime asked, looking at his wife's plate of food. "I want to try.""I've never eaten either. Here, you eat." Vivian said, pushing her plate towards him. It was as simple as that, she felt like they were dating, and the world seemed to be just the couple. A minute later, the image of a person blurred through her eyes, and she watched Luna pull out the chair next to Jaime."I saw you came early, but because I was busy welcoming guests, I couldn't come and say hello." She smiled. Noble makeup, curly hair, loose on the shoulders. Vivian suddenly felt too monotonous for her."We just arrived," Jaime spoke seemingly completely oblivious to Vivian's insecurities."I want to introduce someone to you." S
Vivian curled her hand into a fist. "How weak. The answer is obvious.""But a man always wants to be a hero." Luna reminded confidently. "Men always want to save women because they are the weaker sex. We both love Jaime, but he will definitely choose you."Vivian stared at Luna, wondering if she was crazy. Luna then pulled her hand and rushed forward, plunging them both into the pool.Water poured into Vivian's mouth and nose. After five long minutes of fighting death in the dark, she heard someone's voice."Vivian. I will save you." Jaime's familiar voice rang in her ears as he pulled her toward the edge of the pool. She coughed violently as she clung to her husband for dear life. Her clothes were soaked, and her hair stuck to her face.He then took her to shore. Immediately his hand brushed her hair away from her face, his affection and warmth there as if she always knew it was meant to be."Are you ok?" He asks. Still panting, Vivian just nodded, turning around to see Luna clinging
Vivian's body felt like it was on fire. Jaime's mere touches made her skin burn, sweat, and ache. His urgent hands and lustful mouth caused her defensive walls to crumble.If not for anyone else, her body was sensitive to him, easily as his lips grazed her breasts."Jaime..." Closing her eyes, she forced herself to ask. "Can you turn off the lights?" Although it made no difference since the sun had not yet set, the lighting in the room was distracting.As he moved to the table to turn off the lights, Vivian struggled to catch her breath, it seemed like an impossible task.Vivian's face turned red again as Jaime moved back between her legs as if it were the most natural thing to do. "Are you Okay?"Vivian looked away, distraught at the way she longed for him to touch her again. She was overcome with the fact that she lay there in just her bra and underneath him like a waiter, aware of his eyes, waiting for him.Biting her tongue, blushing to an even more embarrassing height, she looked
"Don't forget these." He said, walking over to give them to her. Confused, Vivian quickly took the toothbrush from him and stuffed it into a storage bag in the suitcase. She could feel his eyes on her without even looking before he bent down to sit next to her.Their knees rubbed, and something brushed past her. Vivian immediately tried to discreetly move away leaving a small gap between them, but Jaime wrapped his arm around her waist stopping her."What's up?" He asks."What?" Vivian turned to look at him. The second her eyes fell on his bright face, confusion took over, and she looked away praying her face wouldn't turn red. She remembered what happened last night, her ears felt hot.As if sensing her feelings, Jaime smiled boldly, wrapping his arms around her to bring her closer to him. "Look at me.""Are not." She refused."Then..." He was deliberately provocative. “Don't tell me you're embarrassed?”"Of course not." If he knew she was embarrassed, it would make her even more emb
Vivian went into the bedroom to organize her things, wondering what trouble Jaime had gotten into at work. She doesn't understand what the terms of his father's business are or what needs to be done to stay afloat. The simplest thing she understands is transactions. Does Jaime's position solve that as well?Bored, she went down to the living room. Plopping down on the couch, she grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest, flipping through the channels to find something interesting. After five long minutes of searching, she sat down to watch a variety show to pass the time. When she was almost asleep, the sound of approaching footsteps woke her up.Juke is up."Aunt Vivian." The boy asked, rubbing his eyes and then sitting down on the chair, in her lap."What's up?" She asked when she saw the boy's pale face. "Didn't sleep well?""I had a nightmare." The boy said."Really?" She asked, suddenly completely unsure of how to comfort her little grandchild.She sank deeper into the couch, J
5 months later...The road she traveled over the years was full of rocks. Vivian doesn't understand why small things turn into such great things. Life is a circle, she ran a big circle and finally returned to the starting point.She learned that with perseverance, one can go further and that weightless dreams can take flight one day. When the road is long and dark, it means the end is near, there will be light at the end of the road.All we need to do is put in effort and courage, no one can get out of their dark path without scars.That's difficult. Her heart is small and scared but the fear is less now than before.Vivian finds it funny how dramatic and difficult situations have happened to her and Jaime. However, in the end, they somehow remained together hand in hand.She couldn't know if they were soul mates in existence, but she believed that deep down, they had built an eternal bond somewhere from the beginning. That bond remains even after two years apart.She was happy that J
"Wait." Jaime quickly pulled Vivian back as soon as she opened the bedroom door.The bags hanging from her arms collided with each other. She asked with irritation. "What's up?""Close your eyes. Don't open them until I tell you to."Vivian snorted. "Is this some trick from that stupid book Clinton lent you?"His eyes became warm. "Of course not." Even though that's a lie. This was a cliché idea he read from a chapter in a book Clinton gave him: How to Surprise a Woman.Vivian closed her eyes.“Did you close your eyes?” He leaned forward to check."Yes." She nodded. Grabbing her shoulder, he led her into the room, gently closing the door behind him. Turning on the light, he led her toward the bathroom and stopped right in the doorway."OK, you can open your eyes." He said and smiled with satisfaction when Vivian saw rose petals floating on the bathtub. The scent of lavender and rosemary flows from lit candles placed around the rim of the tub.Vivian smiled impressed. "Are you serious?
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Vivian sobbed and pulled her mother close as if if she loosened her grip, she might lose her again.It's been a long time since she touched her mother's hair, smelled her scent, or hugged her tightly. All the regrets and pain shattered in that moment, nothing was more important than this moment. "Mom."Their reunion was spent crying and apologizing. Tears fell from all the hurt they had carried over the years. Each tear carries a different story every time it falls.There hasn't been a day since their father passed away that their small family of three has felt so complete."Look at you two." Her mother cried, stroking both of her children. The fact that they survived without their mother's warm hands, she said in a hoarse voice. "You two have grown up very well. My children.""I brought my daughter. Do you want to meet her?" Hodja asked. Picking up baby Esther from the ground, he gave the baby to Mrs. Maggie. "Esther, this is your grandmother. It's your gra
Vivian stayed at Hodja's house, hiding there for a few days until she calmed down and thought things through, but she felt like she was causing trouble for his small family. They are happy. She couldn't go to Jerry's house, so her brother's house was the last thing on her mind.First thing in the morning, Aiden called to let her know she didn't have to go to Jaime's office anymore, and instead she could work with Jerry.The past few days, burying herself in work had helped take other thoughts from her mind, but returning to the solace of Hodja's apartment was completely different. The room was very quiet.She lay on the cold bed and couldn't sleep. When she has nothing to do, she often walks around the apartment, stopping to look out the window.For a week, she let her mind wander and her heart rest for a while. Personal space helps clear any blockages in her mind. The fog began to gradually dissipate, and she could almost breathe normally again. Her chest is not too heavy.All that w
"Why do you want to be my mother now? Why should I call you mother, when you're not there for me or for Hodja, why?" Bitterness filled Vivian's heart. "I don't even know you. Jaime has considered you his biological mother for half his life, more so than Hodja and I. So how do I call you mother?"Vivian's eyebrows furrowed as she looked toward her mother for an answer, but she said nothing. Breathing out a light breath, Vivian turned away to wipe away her tears."If you were there when Hodja almost died twice, I would have knelt and admitted my mistake." Vivian declared. "But you weren't there. Others can proudly say that their mothers raised them well, but Hodja and I couldn't have that happiness. I raised him in your place. I also support myself. We never lived like other people. Waking up to my mother's breakfast, we never had that breakfast.""If I could go back in time, I want to experience that once. I missed that so much that when I finally ate your food, it just made me angry a
Everything would have gone according to Jaime's plan perfectly if he hadn't mentioned her mother. Vivian's blood boiled. She doesn't want to listen. She doesn't want to.Pulling the blanket over her head, she tried to fall asleep.The next morning, she woke up to the smell of delicious food. Jaime was cooking in the kitchen. "Come and eat quickly." He said as she walked in from the bathroom.They ate quietly like strangers. That's so sad. They had come so far, having been together for less than two years apart. Their relationship is so fragile that even the slightest touch will shatter it.Stealthily glancing at Jaime, Vivian found that she didn't know what to say. Is it her fault that they are like this? Because she was too stubborn, too stubborn because she had been in the dark for too long?Because she can't come to terms with her feelings for Jaime or admit them out loud?Is cowardice driving her life so she doesn't want to hear anything from him?That's right, it's her fault, she
Everything was hazy in memory, the argument two years ago had fatefully ended what they had. Remembering why Vivian left him is an even bigger task than plotting to get her back.Jaime leaned forward and ruffled his hair with both hands, frustration evident. Was it the heat of the moment that made Vivian pack her suitcase that night?He can't remember. What he remembered after watching Vivian leave was standing here in this room with anger welling up in a way he had never felt before.He doesn't care if she comes back or not. Jaime regrets that. He should care, because that's what means the most to him right now.That night if he had chased Vivian right after she left, maybe they wouldn't be here constantly arguing. Raising his head from his hands, he thought. Once she left, it seemed like she had no plans to return.He ate lunch and dinner in solitude hoping Vivian would return to eat with him, even if they ate in silence better than without her.If he hadn't rushed to talk to her th
When Vivian returned, she walked into the bathroom, Jaime knew that she would be stiff with anger despite the wonderful night they had had. It's better to give her some space to blow things up, like his mother suggested.Closing his eyes to return to dreamland, he prayed that Vivian would not leave him again.After cleaning up the messy clothes scattered on the floor, he took a shower and walked out. There were no plans for today, so he didn't know what Vivian would do. Mrs. Maggie and Juke have not returned from their trip yet, only the two of them are at home.Since meeting Vivian again after two years, he's begun to learn about her temperament, adapting to it, to a degree he never had when they first knew each other.When angry, she will bite and fight back easily, making him nervous or, most annoyingly, ignoring him. Today she will be angry because he won't let her continue last night's unfinished story.Jaime couldn't figure out how he was going to fight her. He just knew they ne
His excitement increased when he felt that Vivian temporarily stopped resisting. Quickly pulling down her shirt, he smelled her scent and kissed her shoulder. He had been waiting for this.The joy that Vivian kept for him for two years. She owes him. All he could think about was carrying her to bed and claiming her as his own.Retrieving her wet lips, he inserted his tongue into her mouth, groping until his fingers rested on her thighs. He caressed her white calves, pulling her forward to get even closer.Jaime desired her slowly. He wanted to taste every part of her to be reminded of her innocence. The girl's embarrassment about undressing in front of him swept across his mind. He'd be damned if he let her get away after tonight.Releasing her lips, Jaime breathed into her mouth, their lips barely brushing each other. His whole body was aroused, he was using all his energy to satisfy his desire. Turning off the light, he picked her up and walked towards the bed.Vivian's body is attr